Final answer:
The glycemic index is a ranking of carbohydrates based on their simplicity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The glycemic index is a ranking of carbohydrates based on their simplicity. Carbohydrates are organic compounds made of simple sugars and can be classified into three groups: sugars, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Simple carbohydrates, also known as monosaccharides, cannot be hydrolyzed into more simple ones.